New measures are set to clamp down on “problem” car traders who line main roads with vehicles for sale.

Members of the Shepway District Council cabinet comittee unanimously accepted a new street trading policy last month.

It ensures the authority has greater control over burger vans, ice cream carts and any business on wheels, including people selling their cars privately at the side of the road.

Council leader Cllr David Monk said it would promote fairness and ensure areas are not “saturated” with such traders.

People will need to apply for Street Trading Consent, which could then be granted by the council, with conditions if necessary.

The licence will specify the exact trading location and the times, the cabinet report said. Visits will be made by officers to ensure the rules are being complied with.

It will also tackle mass car sellers who often line main roads with more than one vehicle at a time.

However, Cllr Rory Love fears that people selling their own car outside their home could be unfairly penalised.

He said: “What I don’t want to happen is that someone who has had their car parked outside their house then drives into town to do shopping and is then penalised just because it is not outside their own home.”

Cllr Alan Ewart-James said: “In Military Road there are about six cars along that road all for sale and this is causing a problem for people parking.”

A report by Arthur Atkins, the principle environmental health officer, said: “We had loads of issues last year with ice cream vans and burger vans.

“We had no control over what places we could give, this way we can have much greater control.”

Members also voted unanimously to review the policy after a year.